ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT07195734Updated Oct 26, 2026

Testing the Addition of Chemotherapy or Chemo-Immunotherapy to the Usual Surgery for Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

A Phase 2 interventional study of Biospecimen Collection and Carboplatin in Clinical Stage II HPV-Mediated (p16-Positive) Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v8, Clinical Stage III HPV-Mediated (p16-Positive) Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v8 and Locally Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, sponsored by National Cancer Institute (NCI). Recruiting at 115 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-26.

Sponsored by National Cancer Institute (NCI) · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Apr 2026; still recruiting 6 months later.
Updated Oct 26, 2026Site recruiting status changed5 sites addedGo to Updates ↓
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
180
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This phase II trial tests the addition of chemotherapy, with carboplatin and paclitaxel, or chemo-immunotherapy, with carboplatin, paclitaxel and cemiplimab to standard salvage surgery followed by post operative radiation therapy and cisplatin for high risk patients, for the treatment of patients with PD-L1 positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that has come back and spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes after a period of improvement (locally recurrent) or is persistent. Carboplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works in a way similar to the anticancer drug cisplatin, but may be better tolerated than cisplatin. Carboplatin works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Paclitaxel is in a class of medications called antimicrotubule agents. It stops cancer cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as cemiplimab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Salvage surgery is surgery that takes place to remove tumor tissue after a failure of other treatment. High risk patients also receive radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Cisplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Adding chemotherapy or chemo-immunotherapy to standard salvage surgery may kill more tumor cells than salvage surgery alone in patients with PD-L1 positive locally recurrent or persistent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Read the detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To assess and compare investigator-assessed event-free survival (EFS) of patients treated with chemotherapy (carboplatin + paclitaxel) or chemo-immunotherapy (carboplatin + paclitaxel + cemiplimab [REGN2810]) prior to salvage surgery (SS) versus patients undergoing standard of care SS.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess and compare disease-free survival (DFS). II. To assess and compare overall survival (OS). III. To assess and compare distant metastasis (DM). IV. To assess and compare acute and late toxicity (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE] version [v] 5.0), and surgical complications.

V. To assess radiographic response (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors [RECIST] 1.1) to neoadjuvant therapy in the experimental arms.

VI. To assess pathologic response in the experimental arms.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess and compare clinical outcomes (EFS, DFS, OS, DM, and response) within the PD-L1 subgroups (combined positive score \< 20 versus ≥ 20).

II. To determine the impact of surgical quality benchmarks (margin assessment, cervical lymph node harvest collected per central surgery review) and oncologic outcomes.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 3 arms.

ARM 1: Patients undergo standard of care salvage surgery. Starting within 8 weeks of surgery, patients with high risk features also undergo radiation therapy daily for 5 treatments per week for 6 weeks and receive cisplatin intravenously (IV) once per week for 6 weeks during radiation treatment, in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo computed tomography (CT) scan, positron emission tomography (PET) scan and optionally undergo blood sample collection throughout the study.

ARM 2: Patients receive paclitaxel IV and carboplatin IV on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for 2 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. 6-10 weeks after cycle 1 day 1 patients undergo standard of care salvage surgery. Starting within 8 weeks of surgery, patients with high risk features also undergo radiation therapy daily for 5 treatments per week for 6 weeks and receive cisplatin IV once per week for 6 weeks during radiation treatment, in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT scan, PET scan and optionally undergo blood sample collection throughout the study.

ARM 3: Patients receive paclitaxel IV, carboplatin IV and cemiplimab IV, over 30 minutes, on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for 2 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. 6-10 weeks after cycle 1 day 1 patients undergo standard of care salvage surgery. Starting within 8 weeks of surgery, patients with high risk features also undergo radiation therapy daily for 5 treatments per week for 6 weeks and receive cisplatin IV once per week for 6 weeks during radiation treatment, in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT scan, PET scan and optionally undergo blood sample collection throughout the study.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 12 weeks or at the end of post operative radiation, then every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for years 3 and 4 and annually thereafter.

02

Conditions studied

  • Clinical Stage II HPV-Mediated (p16-Positive) Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v8
  • Clinical Stage III HPV-Mediated (p16-Positive) Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v8
  • Locally Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  • Locally Recurrent Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  • Locally Recurrent Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  • Locally Recurrent Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  • Locally Recurrent Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  • Stage II Laryngeal Cancer AJCC v8
  • Stage II Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v8
  • Stage II Oropharyngeal (p16-Negative) Carcinoma AJCC v8
  • Stage III Laryngeal Cancer AJCC v8
  • Stage III Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v8
  • Stage III Oropharyngeal (p16-Negative) Carcinoma AJCC v8
  • Stage IVA Laryngeal Cancer AJCC v8
  • Stage IVA Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer AJCC v8
  • Stage IVA Oropharyngeal (p16-Negative) Carcinoma AJCC v8
  • Stage IVB Laryngeal Cancer AJCC v8
  • Stage IVB Oropharyngeal (p16-Negative) Carcinoma AJCC v8
03

In context

Oropharyngeal Neoplasms

369 studies on the registry are indexed under Oropharyngeal Neoplasms; 103 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 180 is above the median of 52 across 265 interventional studies indexed under Oropharyngeal Neoplasms.

Browse Oropharyngeal Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the lead sponsor of 3,556 studies on the registry; 336 are open to participants now.

Of its 411 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 373 (91%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Pathologically (histologically or cytologically) proven diagnosis of locally recurrent or persistent squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) arising within the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx
  • combined positive score (CPS) ≥ 1 using a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified laboratory
  • Verify insurance (or other payment) coverage for chemotherapy
  • as defined by 1.1
  • Patients must have locally recurrent or persistent SCCHN arising within the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] Cancer Staging Manual, 8th Edition) AND are deemed candidates for salvage surgery:

    • P16 positive oropharynx patients with T2, T3, T4, N0, N1, N2 and all other patients with T2, T3, T4a, N0, N1, N2a, N2b, N2c, N3a are eligible.
    • Patients must be deemed surgically resectable without gross residual disease.
    • For patients with oral cavity SCCHN, only those with recurrent or persistent disease after prior surgery are eligible.
    • Patients who are candidates for salvage laryngectomy to treat recurrent laryngeal cancer and who are having salvage surgery for curative intent are eligible.
    • Patients with resectable lymph node-only recurrence are eligible.
    • No major vascular involvement (> 180° involvement of the common carotid or internal carotid artery), jugular foramen involvement, or prevertebral, paraspinous muscle involvement precluding a curative resection
  • No evidence of distant disease
  • The following minimum diagnostic workup is required:

    • General history and physical examination.
    • Diagnostic-quality neck CT and PET/CT of neck (PET with attenuation-correction CT of neck, chest, and abdomen)
  • Age ≥ 18
  • (ECOG) performance status of 0-2
  • Negative urine or serum pregnancy test (in persons of ) within 30 days prior to registration. Childbearing potential is defined as any person who has experienced menarche and who has not undergone surgical sterilization (hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy) or who is not
  • (ANC) ≥ 1,500 cells/mm\^3
  • ≥ 100,000 cells/mm\^3
  • ≥ 8.0 g/dL (Note: The use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve hemoglobin [Hgb] ≥ 8.0 g/dL is acceptable)
  • Adequate renal function defined as (CrCL) > 50 mL/min by the Cockcroft-Gault formula
  • Total ≤ 1.5 x institutional (ULN) (Not applicable to patients with known Gilbert's syndrome)
  • (AST)(serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT]) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase [SGPT]) ≤ 3 x institutional ULN
  • Only patients who received prior radiation therapy in the definitive or post-operative setting (limited to one course) are eligible.

    • Prior radiation therapy must have been completed at least 6 months prior to registration with the majority of the index persistent/recurrent cancer volume (> 50%) irradiated to ≥ 40 Gy at the time
  • Prior systemic therapy including immunotherapy with anti-PD1 or anti-PDL1 within the definitive setting (neo-adjuvant, or adjuvant) is permitted and must have been completed at least 4 months prior to registration
  • Prior systemic therapy including immunotherapy for treatment of recurrent or metastatic SCCHN is not permitted
  • No anti-cancer agents received within 4 weeks prior to registration
  • No Functional Classification III or IV (Note: Patients with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification)
  • No active infection requiring IV antibiotics, IV antiviral, or IV antifungal treatments
  • No peripheral neuropathy grade 3 or 4
  • No history of interstitial lung disease
  • No active, noninfectious pneumonitis requiring therapy
  • No history of a solid organ transplant (other than corneal transplant)
  • No active disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e., use of disease-modifying agents, [> 10 mg prednisone/day or equivalent] or immunosuppressive drugs)

    • NOTE: Patients meeting the following criteria are not considered immunosuppressed and are eligible to enroll:

      • Patients who require a brief course of steroids (e.g., prophylaxis for imaging assessments due to to contrast agents) are not excluded
      • Patients with type I diabetes mellitus, and endocrinopathies (including hypothyroidism due to autoimmune thyroiditis) only requiring hormone replacement, or skin disorders (such as vitiligo, psoriasis, or alopecia) not requiring systemic treatment, or conditions not expected to recur in the absence of an external trigger are permitted to enroll
      • Physiologic replacement doses ≤ 10 mg prednisone/day or equivalent are allowed. Inhaled or topical steroids are permitted
  • No history of allergic reaction to the study agent, compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to the study agent, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (or any of its )
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(22)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

PD-1, PD-L1 and checkpoint inhibitors

PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 are proteins that act as brakes on the immune system. Checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab, block them so the immune system can attack a cancer.

PD-L1 can also be measured in a tumour sample. Some scores count stained tumour cells only (TPS); others also count certain immune cells (CPS). The study names the score and the minimum it uses.

Adjuvant and neoadjuvant

Neoadjuvant treatment is given before the main treatment (usually surgery), often to shrink a tumour. Adjuvant treatment is given after it, to lower the chance of the cancer coming back.

Measurable disease

The amount of disease can be tracked with a defined measurement, so the study can see whether it shrinks or grows. It might be a tumour measured on a scan or, in some blood cancers such as myeloma, a marker measured in blood or urine.

The criteria or the study team say which measurement counts — having no tumour visible on a scan does not by itself rule you out.

RECIST

The standard rules for measuring tumours on CT or MRI scans, to tell whether a cancer is shrinking, stable or growing during treatment.

“Measurable disease per RECIST 1.1” usually means at least one tumour 10 mm or more at its longest on a CT scan, or a lymph node 15 mm or more across its short axis.

Metastases

Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.

ECOG performance status

A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.

0
Fully active, no restrictions.
1
Limited in strenuous activity, but walking and able to do light work, such as housework or office work.
2
Walking and able to look after yourself, but unable to work; up and about more than half of waking hours.
3
Able to look after yourself only in part; in bed or a chair more than half of waking hours.
4
Unable to look after yourself at all; in bed or a chair all day.

Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Postmenopausal

Periods have stopped for good: usually no period for 12 months in a row without another medical reason, sometimes confirmed by a blood test (FSH).

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)

The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.

It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

Hemoglobin (Hb)

The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).

Creatinine clearance (CrCl)

How quickly the kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product, from the blood. A study may estimate it from a blood test with age, weight and sex (often by the Cockcroft–Gault formula), or measure it using blood and urine collected over a set time. Given in mL/min; higher is better.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

ULN (upper limit of normal)

The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.

“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

NYHA class (heart failure)

The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.

I
No limits: ordinary activity causes no undue tiredness or breathlessness.
II
Slight limits: comfortable at rest, ordinary activity causes symptoms.
III
Marked limits: comfortable at rest, less than ordinary activity causes symptoms.
IV
Symptoms even at rest; any activity makes them worse.

Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.

Immunosuppression

A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.

Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Excipients

The other ingredients in a medicine besides the active drug, such as fillers, colours or preservatives.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
180 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Arm 1 (Salvage surgery)

    Patients undergo standard of care salvage surgery. Starting within 8 weeks of surgery, patients with high risk features also undergo radiation therapy daily for 5 treatments per week for 6 weeks and receive cisplatin IV once per week for 6 weeks during radiation treatment, in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT scan, PET scan and optionally undergo blood sample collection throughout the study.

    Procedure: Biospecimen Collection · Drug: Cisplatin · Procedure: Computed Tomography · Procedure: Positron Emission Tomography · Radiation: Radiation Therapy · Procedure: Salvage Surgery

  • Experimental
    Arm 2 (Chemotherapy, salvage surgery)

    Patients receive paclitaxel IV and carboplatin IV on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for 2 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. 6-10 weeks after cycle 1 day 1 patients undergo standard of care salvage surgery. Starting within 8 weeks of surgery, patients with high risk features also undergo radiation therapy daily for 5 treatments per week for 6 weeks and receive cisplatin IV once per week for 6 weeks during radiation treatment, in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT scan, PET scan and optionally undergo blood sample collection throughout the study.

    Procedure: Biospecimen Collection · Drug: Carboplatin · Drug: Cisplatin · Procedure: Computed Tomography · Drug: Paclitaxel · Procedure: Positron Emission Tomography · Radiation: Radiation Therapy · Procedure: Salvage Surgery

  • Experimental
    Arm 3 (Chemo-immunotherapy, salvage surgery)

    Patients receive paclitaxel IV, carboplatin IV and cemiplimab IV, over 30 minutes, on day 1 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 21 days for 2 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. 6-10 weeks after cycle 1 day 1 patients undergo standard of care salvage surgery. Starting within 8 weeks of surgery, patients with high risk features also undergo radiation therapy daily for 5 treatments per week for 6 weeks and receive cisplatin IV once per week for 6 weeks during radiation treatment, in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT scan, PET scan and optionally undergo blood sample collection throughout the study.

    Procedure: Biospecimen Collection · Drug: Carboplatin · Biological: Cemiplimab · Drug: Cisplatin · Procedure: Computed Tomography · Drug: Paclitaxel · Procedure: Positron Emission Tomography · Radiation: Radiation Therapy · Procedure: Salvage Surgery

Interventions

  • ProcedureBiospecimen Collection

    Undergo blood sample collection

    Also known as: Biological Sample Collection, Biospecimen Collected, Sample Collection, Specimen Collection

  • Given IV

    Also known as: Blastocarb, Carboplat, Carboplatin Hexal, Carboplatino, Carboplatinum, Carbosin, Carbosol, Carbotec, CBDCA, Displata, Ercar, JM-8, JM8, Nealorin, Novoplatinum, Paraplatin, Paraplatin AQ, Paraplatine, Platinwas, Ribocarbo

  • BiologicalCemiplimab

    Given IV

    Also known as: Cemiplimab RWLC, Cemiplimab-rwlc, Libtayo, REGN 2810, REGN-2810, REGN2810

  • Given IV

    Also known as: Abiplatin, Blastolem, Briplatin, CDDP, Cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum, Cis-diamminedichloridoplatinum, Cis-diamminedichloro Platinum (II), Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, Cis-dichloroammine Platinum (II), Cis-platinous Diamine Dichloride, Cis-platinum, Cis-platinum II, Cis-platinum II Diamine Dichloride, Cismaplat, Cisplatina, Cisplatinum, Cisplatyl, Citoplatino, Citosin, Cysplatyna, DDP, Lederplatin, Metaplatin, Neoplatin, Peyrone's Chloride, Peyrone's Salt, Placis, Plastistil, Platamine, Platiblastin, Platiblastin-S, Platinex, Platinol, Platinol- AQ, Platinol-AQ, Platinol-AQ VHA Plus, Platinoxan, Platinum, Platinum Diamminodichloride, Platiran, Platistin, Platosin

  • ProcedureComputed Tomography

    Undergo CT scan

    Also known as: CAT, CAT Scan, Computed Axial Tomography, Computerized Axial Tomography, Computerized axial tomography (procedure), Computerized Tomography, Computerized Tomography (CT) scan, CT, CT Scan, Diagnostic CAT Scan, Diagnostic CAT Scan Service Type, tomography

  • Given IV

    Also known as: Anzatax, Asotax, Bristaxol, Praxel, Taxol, Taxol Konzentrat

  • ProcedurePositron Emission Tomography

    Undergo PET scan

    Also known as: Medical Imaging, Positron Emission Tomography, PET, PET Scan, Positron emission tomography (procedure), Positron Emission Tomography Scan, Positron-Emission Tomography, PT

  • RadiationRadiation Therapy

    Undergo radiation therapy

    Also known as: Cancer Radiotherapy, Energy Type, ENERGY_TYPE, Irradiate, Irradiated, Irradiation, Radiation, Radiation Therapy, NOS, Radiotherapeutics, Radiotherapy, RT, Therapy, Radiation

  • ProcedureSalvage Surgery

    Undergo standard of care salvage surgery

    Also known as: Rescue Surgery, Salvage Resection, Salvage Surgical Resection, Surgical Salvage

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Event free survival (EFS)

    Will be summarized by treatment arm using standard Kaplan-Meier methods, reporting the estimated 2-year EFS rate with corresponding 95% confidence intervals.

    Time frame: From randomization to disease progression or treatment-related toxicities that precludes surgery, disease progression in the absence of surgery, disease recurrence after surgery, or death due to any cause, up to 7 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. Disease free survival (DFS)

    Will be summarized by treatment arm using standard Kaplan-Meier methods, where estimates of the 2-year DFS will be obtained with 95% confidence intervals. Comparisons between the experimental arms and the control arm will be made using the stratified log-rank test.

    Time frame: From randomization until disease recurrence, death due to any cause, up to 7 years

  2. Overall survival (OS)

    Will be summarized by treatment arm using standard Kaplan-Meier methods, where estimates of the 2-year OS will be obtained with 95% confidence intervals. Comparisons between the experimental arms and the control arm will be made using the stratified log-rank test.

    Time frame: From randomization until death due to any cause, up to 7 years

  3. Time to distant metastasis

    The cumulative incidence method will be used to estimate the incidence of distant metastases; where estimates of the 2-year distant metastasis rates will be obtained with 95% confidence intervals. Comparisons between the experimental arms and the control arm will be made using the stratified Gray's test.

    Time frame: From randomization until detection of distant metastases or death, up to 7 years

  4. Surgical complications

    Will be assessed using the Comprehensive Complication Index. Surgical complications will be summarized by treatment arm using frequencies and relative frequencies; where the overall complication rate will be estimated by treatment arm using 95% confidence intervals obtained by the Clopper-Pearson method. Comparisons between the experimental arms and the control arm will be made using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test.

    Time frame: Up to 7 years

  5. Incidence of acute adverse events

    Assessed by Common Terminology Critiera for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version (v) 5.0. The overall (highest grade) acute toxicities will be summarized by treatment arm using frequencies and relative frequencies.

    Time frame: Up to 30 days from the last treatment

  6. Incidence of late adverse events

    Assessed by CTCAE v 5.0. The overall (highest grade) late toxicities will be summarized by treatment arm using frequencies and relative frequencies.

    Time frame: From day 31 to 180 days from the last treatment

  7. Radiographic response (Arm 2 and 3)

    Response will be assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1. Best response will be summarized by treatment arm using frequencies and relative frequencies; where the complete (CR) and objective response rates (CR + partial response) will be estimated using 95% confidence intervals obtained by the Clopper-Pearson method.

    Time frame: Up to 7 years

  8. Major pathological response (mPR) (Arm 2 and 3)

    mPR will be summarized by treatment arm using frequencies and relative frequencies; where the mPR rates will be estimated using 95% confidence intervals obtained by the Clopper-Pearson method.

    Time frame: Up to 7 years

07

Study locations

114 of 115 sites recruiting

Showing the first 100 of 115 sites. Choose a country and city above to see the rest.

08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — NCI is committed to sharing data in accordance with NIH policy. For more details on how clinical trial data is shared, access the link to the NIH data sharing policy page.

Data sharing details ↗ · grants.nih.gov

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

7 registry updates since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Started Apr 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Feb 2033, 81 months after the start.

Of 63 non-industry phase 2 interventional studies under Oropharyngeal Neoplasms, half reached primary completion within 60 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 49 and three quarters within 99. This study's planned 81 months is above that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 64 studies reached it within 63 months; a quarter within 49 and three quarters within 99.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Sep 26, 2025
First posted
Sep 29, 2025
StartActual
Apr 24, 2026
Primary completionEst.
Feb 1, 2033
CompletionEst.
Feb 1, 2033
Last update
Oct 26, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
Sites
5 sites added. 3 sites changed recruiting status (3 now recruiting)
Show 3 sites
  • Clackamas Radiation Oncology Center · Clackamas, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
  • Providence Newberg Medical Center · Newberg, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
  • Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center · Oregon City, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
Show 5 added (5 United States)
  • University of Rochester · Rochester, United States
  • Wilmot Cancer Institute at Webster · Webster, United States
  • Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center/Dartmouth Cancer Center · Lebanon, United States
  • UCI Health - Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care · Irvine, United States
  • UC Irvine Health/Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center · Orange, United States
across 6 updates, Sep 25, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026
Site contacts
Changed at 14 sites. See the sites
Show 14 sites
  • Northwestern University · Chicago, United StatesContact added c•••@northwestern.edu · •••1301Contact added (no phone or email listed)
  • Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Kishwaukee · DeKalb, United StatesContact added D•••@nm.org · •••5360Contact added (no phone or email listed)
  • Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Delnor · Geneva, United StatesContact added D•••@nm.org · •••5360Contact added (no phone or email listed)
  • Northwestern Medicine Glenview Outpatient Center · Glenview, United StatesContact added •••1102Contact added (no phone or email listed)
  • Northwestern Medicine Grayslake Outpatient Center · Grayslake, United StatesContact added •••1102Contact added (no phone or email listed)
  • Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital · Lake Forest, United StatesContact added c•••@northwestern.eduContact added (no phone or email listed)
  • Northwestern Medicine Oak Brook · Oak Brook, United StatesContact added n•••@northwestern.eduContact added (no phone or email listed)
  • Northwestern Medicine Orland Park · Orland Park, United StatesContact added n•••@northwestern.eduContact added (no phone or email listed)
  • Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Warrenville · Warrenville, United StatesContact added D•••@nm.org · •••5360Contact added (no phone or email listed)
  • Providence Portland Medical Center · Portland, United StatesContact added C•••@providence.org · •••2614Contact added (no phone or email listed)
  • Providence Saint Vincent Medical Center · Portland, United StatesContact added C•••@providence.org · •••2614Contact added (no phone or email listed)
  • Clackamas Radiation Oncology Center · Clackamas, United StatesContact added C•••@providence.org · •••2614Contact added (no phone or email listed)
  • Providence Newberg Medical Center · Newberg, United StatesContact added C•••@providence.org · •••2614Contact added (no phone or email listed)
  • Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center · Oregon City, United StatesContact added C•••@providence.org · •••2614Contact added (no phone or email listed)
across 4 updates, Sep 25, 2026 – Oct 14, 2026
Show all 7 updates
  1. Oct 26, 2026
    2 sites added
    Show 2 added (2 United States)
    • UCI Health - Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care · Irvine, United States
    • UC Irvine Health/Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center · Orange, United States
  2. Oct 14, 2026
    5 sites changed recruiting status (5 now recruiting)
    Show 5 sites
    • Clackamas Radiation Oncology Center · Clackamas, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
    • Providence Newberg Medical Center · Newberg, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
    • Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center · Oregon City, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
    • Providence Portland Medical Center · Portland, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
    • Providence Saint Vincent Medical Center · Portland, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
    Site contacts Changed at 5 sites. See the sites
    Show 5 sites
    • Clackamas Radiation Oncology Center · Clackamas, United StatesContact added C•••@providence.org · •••2614Contact added (no phone or email listed)
    • Providence Newberg Medical Center · Newberg, United StatesContact added C•••@providence.org · •••2614Contact added (no phone or email listed)
    • Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center · Oregon City, United StatesContact added C•••@providence.org · •••2614Contact added (no phone or email listed)
    • Providence Portland Medical Center · Portland, United StatesContact added C•••@providence.org · •••2614Contact added (no phone or email listed)
    • Providence Saint Vincent Medical Center · Portland, United StatesContact added C•••@providence.org · •••2614Contact added (no phone or email listed)
  3. Oct 13, 2026
    9 sites changed recruiting status (9 now recruiting)
    Show 9 sites
    • Northwestern University · Chicago, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
    • Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Kishwaukee · DeKalb, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
    • Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Delnor · Geneva, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
    • Northwestern Medicine Glenview Outpatient Center · Glenview, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
    • Northwestern Medicine Grayslake Outpatient Center · Grayslake, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
    • Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital · Lake Forest, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
    • Northwestern Medicine Oak Brook · Oak Brook, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
    • Northwestern Medicine Orland Park · Orland Park, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
    • Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Warrenville · Warrenville, United StatesSuspended→Recruiting
    Site contacts Changed at 9 sites. See the sites
    Show 9 sites
    • Northwestern University · Chicago, United StatesContact added c•••@northwestern.edu · •••1301Contact added (no phone or email listed)
    • Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Kishwaukee · DeKalb, United StatesContact added D•••@nm.org · •••5360Contact added (no phone or email listed)
    • Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Delnor · Geneva, United StatesContact added D•••@nm.org · •••5360Contact added (no phone or email listed)
    • Northwestern Medicine Glenview Outpatient Center · Glenview, United StatesContact added •••1102Contact added (no phone or email listed)
    • Northwestern Medicine Grayslake Outpatient Center · Grayslake, United StatesContact added •••1102Contact added (no phone or email listed)
    • Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital · Lake Forest, United StatesContact added c•••@northwestern.eduContact added (no phone or email listed)
    • Northwestern Medicine Oak Brook · Oak Brook, United StatesContact added n•••@northwestern.eduContact added (no phone or email listed)
    • Northwestern Medicine Orland Park · Orland Park, United StatesContact added n•••@northwestern.eduContact added (no phone or email listed)
    • Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Warrenville · Warrenville, United StatesContact added D•••@nm.org · •••5360Contact added (no phone or email listed)
  4. Oct 6, 2026
    2 sites changed recruiting status (2 now suspended)
    Show 2 sites
    • Providence Portland Medical Center · Portland, United StatesRecruiting→Suspended
    • Providence Saint Vincent Medical Center · Portland, United StatesRecruiting→Suspended
    Site contacts Changed at 2 sites. See the sites
    Show 2 sites
    • Providence Portland Medical Center · Portland, United StatesContact removed C•••@providence.org · •••2614Contact removed (no phone or email listed)
    • Providence Saint Vincent Medical Center · Portland, United StatesContact removed C•••@providence.org · •••2614Contact removed (no phone or email listed)
  5. Oct 5, 2026
    Minor edits only
    + 1 other change: verification date
  6. Sep 29, 2026
    1 site added
    Show site
    • Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center/Dartmouth Cancer Center · Lebanon, United States
  7. Sep 25, 2026
    2 sites added. 9 sites changed recruiting status (9 now suspended)
    Show 9 sites
    • Northwestern University · Chicago, United StatesRecruiting→Suspended
    • Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Kishwaukee · DeKalb, United StatesRecruiting→Suspended
    • Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Delnor · Geneva, United StatesRecruiting→Suspended
    • Northwestern Medicine Glenview Outpatient Center · Glenview, United StatesRecruiting→Suspended
    • Northwestern Medicine Grayslake Outpatient Center · Grayslake, United StatesRecruiting→Suspended
    • Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital · Lake Forest, United StatesRecruiting→Suspended
    • Northwestern Medicine Oak Brook · Oak Brook, United StatesRecruiting→Suspended
    • Northwestern Medicine Orland Park · Orland Park, United StatesRecruiting→Suspended
    • Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Warrenville · Warrenville, United StatesRecruiting→Suspended
    Show 2 added (2 United States)
    • University of Rochester · Rochester, United States
    • Wilmot Cancer Institute at Webster · Webster, United States
    Site contacts Changed at 9 sites. See the sites
    Show 9 sites
    • Northwestern University · Chicago, United StatesContact removed c•••@northwestern.edu · •••1301Contact removed (no phone or email listed)
    • Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Kishwaukee · DeKalb, United StatesContact removed D•••@nm.org · •••5360Contact removed (no phone or email listed)
    • Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Delnor · Geneva, United StatesContact removed D•••@nm.org · •••5360Contact removed (no phone or email listed)
    • Northwestern Medicine Glenview Outpatient Center · Glenview, United StatesContact removed •••1102Contact removed (no phone or email listed)
    • Northwestern Medicine Grayslake Outpatient Center · Grayslake, United StatesContact removed •••1102Contact removed (no phone or email listed)
    • Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital · Lake Forest, United StatesContact removed c•••@northwestern.eduContact removed (no phone or email listed)
    • Northwestern Medicine Oak Brook · Oak Brook, United StatesContact removed n•••@northwestern.eduContact removed (no phone or email listed)
    • Northwestern Medicine Orland Park · Orland Park, United StatesContact removed n•••@northwestern.eduContact removed (no phone or email listed)
    • Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Warrenville · Warrenville, United StatesContact removed D•••@nm.org · •••5360Contact removed (no phone or email listed)

From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07195734
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Sep 29, 2025
Start date
Apr 24, 2026
Primary completion
Feb 1, 2033 (estimated)
Completion
Feb 1, 2033 (estimated)
Last update
Oct 26, 2026

Study contacts

Nabil F Saba
principal investigator · NRG Oncology

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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Studies of the drugs tested here: Carboplatin · Cemiplimab · Paclitaxel

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